Lockable universal implement head



1 R. B. STEWART 3,006,668

LOCKABLE UNIVERSAL IMPLEMENT HEAD Filed Dec. 5, 1959 FIG-3 53 5 @1150 FIG 6 50 5.9 56

53 IN VEN TOR.

33/ ROGER B. STEWART Zz 35 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,006,668 LOCKABLE UNIVERSAL IMPLEMENT HEAD Roger B. Stewart, Union City, Ind., assignor to Reit-Price Manufacturing Co., Inc., Union City, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 857,137 2 Claims. (Cl. 28714) This invention pertains to implements and more particularly to a lockable universal member for connecting a handle to a head of an implement, such as for a mop, broom or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide an implement head particularly suited for the attachment of floor cleaning devices such as mops, clusters and the like to a handle, which provides universal movement of the attached implement with respect to the handle and which is lockable into a position permitting relative movement in one plane only between the implement and the handle where additional control is desired for getting into hardto-reach places.

A further object of this invention is to provide an implement head with a universal mounting which may be adjusted for relative movement in one plane, or returned to universal movement, with the simple hand manipulation of a pin. An advantage resides in the provision of an adjustment to vary the relative stiffness or looseness of the mounting in one plane of movement. I

A further object of this invention is to provide a universal implement head which includes a selectable foolproof lock-out of one of the movements in the form of a latch bolt movable between an inner retracted position providing for universal movement and a plurality of extended locked positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the implement head of this invention arranged for use with a dust mop;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the coupling partially broken away to show details;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing the end of the cylinder;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section showing the latch bolt in extended position, taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 6 showing the bolt in retracted position.

Referring to the figures of the drawing, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, a head frame for a dust mop is indicated generally at 10. It is understood that this invention has equal application to wet mops, brushes, brooms and other instruments where the selection between fixed or universal movement between a handle and a working implement head is desired. The head 10 includes a wire loop 11 having a cross brace 12 located centrally. A coupling indicated at 15 is arranged on the cross brace 12 to provide for the selection of universal movement between a handle 16 and the head 10, or pivotal movement in either of a plurality of selectable positions.

Means for attaching the handle 16 to the head 10 through the coupling 15 includes a quick-disconnect attachment indicated generally at 17. The attachment 17 includes a yoke-like member 18 secured to the bottom of the handle 16 and including loops or guides 19 through 3,006,668 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 which the upper ends of a pair of upstanding connecting rods 20 are slidably and removably receivable. The rods 20 are each slotted as indicated at 21 for the purpose of receiving the looped end of pull wires 22 of a clasp 23. A cross piece 25 secured between the rods 20 forms a brace against which the yoke 18 rests in the assembled position of the handle 16. Between the clasp 23 and the yoke 18 a spring 26 provides tension in the wires 22 when the yoke 18 is bottomed and the clasp 23 is raised in the attached position of the handle, as shown.

The coupling 15 includes a generally U-shaped support bracket 30 secured to the loop 11 at the cross brace 12. A cylinder 32 is mounted for rotation on a spindle or bolt 33 between the oppositely disposed upstanding arms 34 and 35 of the bracket 30 The bolt 33 is arranged to extend through suitable openings provided in the arms 34, 35 and through a suitable opening extending axially through the cylinder 32, and a rubber cushioning washer 38 may be inserted on the bolt 33 between an end of the cylinder 32 and the arm 34. The bolt 33 and cylinder 32 are held in the assembled position by a wing nut 39 on the extended threaded end of the bolt 33, which may be adjusted against a lock washer 40 to compress the clastomeric washer 38. This adjustment provides the means by which the resistance of the cylinder 32 to turning within the arms 34, 35 may be controlled to avoid flop over of the frame 11 when pushing an attached mop head.

Means for attaching the handle 16 to the cylinder 32 for pivotal movement on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 32 includes a pair of machine screws 42 and 43, which are threaded into the side of the cylinder 32 through suitable opposed openings formed in the lower ends of the arms 20. Small cylindrical sleeves 44 positioned on screws 42, 43 between the respective screw heads and the cylinder 32 provide a bushing for the free pivotal movement of the handle 16 relative to the cylinder. It is therefore seen that the handle 16 has universal freedom of movement with respect to the head 10 by reason of the rotation of the cylinder 32 on its longitudinal axis on the bolt 33, and the relative rotation of the arms 20 on the cylinder 32.

The coupling 15 includes means for selectively fixing the cylinder 32 in one of a plurality of predetermined positions on the bracket 30 for limiting the movement between the handle 16 and the head 10 to a single plane to provide increased control of the head. These include a latch bolt 50 reciprocably received within a longitudinal opening 51 formed within the cylinder 32, and movable between an inner retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and an outer extended position, as shown in FIG. 6. A compression spring 53 positioned in the opening 51 behind the inner end of bolt 50 urges the bolt 50 into its outer extended position. A plurality of angularly disposed bolt receiving openings 55 are formed in the arm 35 for receiving the reduced outer end portion 56 of the bolt 50 in the extended position thereof, as shown in FIG. 4, for selectively holding the cylinder 32 in fixed positions with respect to the head 10. While any number of openings 55 may be provided for adjusting the fixed position of the cylinder as closely as desired, it has been found in practice that two such openings located to provide an angle for the handle of approximately 45 within a horizontal plane are all that is required.

A bolt operator includes a handle or pin 58 extending from the side of bolt 50 and arranged for movement within an opening 59 formed through the cylinder 32. Pin 58 is operable by hand manipulation to move the bolt against the resistance of the spring 53 into its retracted position, in which it may be retained by a pin receiving notch 60 formed adjacent the opening 59 within the cylinder wall. In this position of the bolt the coupling provides for fully universal movement, and when it is desired to return to pivotal movement for greater con trol of manipulation, the pin 58 is pressed out of notch 60 to permit spring 53 to bias the end portion 56 of the bolt 50 into one of the openings 55, as desired. The wing nut 39 may be tightened or loosened, as desired, to vary the firmness of the mop head connection to the handle in order to maintain uniform contact of the mop with the surface of the floor and at the same time to provide the firmness necessary to avoid the tipping of the frame 11 when encountering an uneven or rough area, commonly called flop over.

The spaced apart arrangements of the arms 34 and 35 on the bracket 30 and the cylinder 32 are proportioned to provide unobstructed access to the cylinder and to the pin 48 for the operation of the latch bolt 50.

It is therefore seen that this invention provides a fully universal head for connecting an implement to a handle and for selective pivotal movement of the implement with respect to the handle, having a minimum of moving parts for simplicity of construction, ease of operation and long service life.

While the form of device herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of device, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. A lockable universal head for attachment of an implement handle comprising a'support having oppositely disposed arms arranged for mounting in upstanding relation on an implement, a cylinder, means rotatably mounting said cylinder between said arms including a spindle on said arms and extending longitudinally through said cylinder, means for adjusting the resistance of said cylinder to rotation including an elastomeric washer positioned between said cylinder and one of said arms, and handle attaching means on said cylinder for securing a handle for pivotal movement on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder.

2. A lockable universal head for attachment of an implement handle comprising a support having oppositely disposed arms arranged for mounting in upstanding re lation on an implement, a cylinder, means rotatably .mounting said cylinder between said arms including a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,583,184 Sandberg May 4, 1926 2,431,263 Lundgren Nov. 18, 1947 2,796,621 Legge June 25, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 635,241 France Dec. 20, 1927 

